Washing-machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

w. J. BRAOKNEY. WASHING MAGHINE.

No. 431,323. Paten a July 1, 1890.

A TTORNE YS UNITED {STATES f PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM J. BRACKNEY, OF GOYLEVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 431,323, dated July 1, 1890.

Application filed March 14, 1890. Serial No. 343,939. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. BRACKNEY, of Coyleville, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and Improved Washing-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates tOllllPlOVGIHGIltS in washing-machines, and has for its object to produce a durable and efficient device of the character named, compact in form and of cheap construction, and which will be convenient in use.

To these ends my invention consists-in certain features of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and indicated in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, in section, of the device, taken on the line 1 1 in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the machine, taken on the line 2 2 in Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a plan View of a detachable folding frame used to support the machine when in use, the outline of which is shown in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device with the top rubber-frame and its operatinglevers removed. Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view of the upper rubber-frame; and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the upper rubber-frame with attached standards, by which it is moved.

This machine is of the reciprocating rubber type, two oppositely-moving rubbers being employed, which engage articles to be washed that are placed between them, as will be more fully described.

The suds-box A is preferably made rectangular, of proper dimensions for its use, hav ing a close bottom a and transverse bottom ledges a, placed at the ends on the bottom, the use of which will appear.

Within the box A re-enforce walls I) are secured, which are separated a suitable distance near the longitudinal center of the box to aiford space for vibration of the upright rocking levers c, which are located in elon gated recesses or sockets formed by the attachment of thin covering-plates (1 upon the inner vertical edges of the re-enforce walls. The rocking levers c are secured together at their upper ends by a cross-bar c, which serves as a grip-piece to vibrate the levers and operate the rubber-frames of the machine, and are journaled in the sides of the suds-box A at 0 The lower rubber-frame is considerably shorter than the suds-box, and is comprised of a center guide-bar e and side bars f, which are equally spaced from the guide-bar 6, they being connected to the same and each other by the rubber-strips g, which latter are of a number sufficient for the capacity of the machine, and are held spaced in series transversely of the guide-bar e by their attachment to it and the side bars f, thus producing a rectangular slatted frame, through which the suds-water may circulate when the frame is moved. Preferably the series of rubbing-strips g are each made a quarter-cylinder in cross-section, so disposed that their rounded sides will face toward the opposite ends of the suds-box from the longitudinal center of the frame.

Upon the interior bottom surface of the suds-box A two stationary guide-bars h are secured. These, having loose contact with the sides of the guide-bar e, are proportioned in breadth to afford longitudinal grooves between them and the re-enforce walls I), in

which the side bars f of the bottom rubberframe may reciprocate.

Aligning holes are formed in three rows through the rubbing-strips g, said rows of perforations beinglocated at spaced intervals, laterally considered, and directly above the center guide-bar e for the loose support of the cylindrical guard-rods 2', which rods fit loosely against each end of the suds-box A, their office being to prevent clothes from wet ging between the end of the guide-bar e and ends of the suds-box A, which would lockthe rubber-frame from reciprocation that is effected by its pivotal connection with the lower ends of the rocking levers c, by the pivots 0 extending inwardly from the levers and ongaging slots formed at the longitudinal center of the rubber-frame in the side bars f thereof.

Above the guard-rods t' transverse cleats v,"

are attached to the end walls of the suds-box A, which loosely engage the ends of the rods and prevent small articles from working below them, and also hold the lower rubberframe from being crowded up at either end when it is operated.

The upper rubber-frame (shown detached in Figs. 5 and 6) consists of a pair of side bars m of equal length with those on the lower rubber-frame, these being connected by the transverse rubbing-strips n, similar in form to that of the strips g on the lower frame, said strips being firmly secured by their ends to the side bars and also to the longitudinal guide-pieces 0, that are of equal length with, the side bars on and abut against them edge wise, the upper surface of the joined pieces lying in the same plane. The guide-pieces 0 are of such width proportionately that a sufficient space between them will be afforded for the introduction of the center guid e-piece 19, that loosely engages the inner edges of the side guide-pieces 0. The three pieces 0 0 19, having equal thickness, are level on the upper surface. It is necessary that the center guidepiece 19 should remain stationary wit-h regard to the rubbing-strips n and side guide-pieces 0 0, and also be retained central, laterally considered. To these ends the piece 11 is made to fit closely, but removably, between the end walls of the suds-box A, and on each end portion of the same the transverse cover-boards r are attached, these cover-boards being of suitable width to close the opening into the suds-box below when the upper rubber-frame is reciprocated, and of a length to fit loosely against the inside surface of the suds-box sides.

Near the longitudinal center of the side bars m, on the upper rubber-frame, two standards s are oppositely erected, their outer surfaces aligning with those of the side bars on which they are secured. The standards 8 are vertically slotted from a point 5, near their upper terminals, through their lower ends, these slots extending through the side bars m, also, to afford a free passage for the oppositely and inwardly projected pins 25, that are affixed in the inner faces of the rocking levers c a short distance above the suds-box. To afford support to the standards 8, a cross-bar u is secured between and to their lower ends, and also upon the side guide-pieces o o of the upper rubber-frame, and above the crossbar a handle-bar o is likewise attached to the inner faces of the standards 3 across the slots in the same.

At proper points slots are formed in the end walls of the suds-box A, in which are pivoted the turn-buckles 20, that may be projected within the box, as shown in Fig. 1, or be withdrawn from the same, as occasion may require, similar turn-buckle latches 20 being secured on the edges of the end walls above those first named.

In operation the turn-buckles w are made to align with the end walls of the suds-box A,

so that the upper rubber-frame may adjust itself vertically within the box upon the material to be cleansed, and when a full box is to be operated upon the goods are placed therein until they must be slightly compressed by the upper rubber-frame, when it is placed on the stops or turn-buckles w and held thereon by the upper turn-buckles to.

It is apparent that a vibration of the rocking levers 0 will actuate the upper and lower rubber-frames of the machine in opposite directions by reason of their pivotal connection thereto above and below the pivot-supports 0 of said levers, so that a rubbing ac tion of the strips on these frames is had upon the material placed between them and a 10in gitudinal agitation of the goods and sudswater also, which will cause a penetration of water through the clothes and rapid removal of impurities therefrom.

There is a folding frame B provided for the support of the suds-box A when in operation. This consists of four uprights so, having hookshoulders 03 formed on their upper portions facing toward each other in pairs. Said uprights 00 are held spaced apart the width of the suds-box A by transverse stretcher-rods 00 secured in the same near their upper and lower ends, and upon the lower pair of trans verse stretcher-rods two pairs of locking-bars y are pivoted. The bars y are of such a length proportioned to that of the suds-box that when the uprights 00 are hooked upon the ends of the longitudinal cleats 00 on the sudsbox and the upper stretcher-rods m bear against the transverse batten ledges a, so as to give the uprights a Vertical position, these locking-bars y will lie inclined from the points y, where they pivotally engage the cross-bar 1 toward the lower stretcher-rods and be enabled to spread the lower portion ofthe folding frame B endwise when they are depressed.

Upon the cross-bar 3 a pawl 11 is loosely mounted, which may engage the ratchet-rack 3 formed on or secured to the bottom a of the suds-box A and hold secure the lockingbars y at any point of depression given thereto, which adjustment of parts will secure the folding frame B upon the suds-box A and per mit its disengagement in an obvious manner.

When the frame B is not in use, it may be folded so as to take up but little space by swinging the uprights 00 so as to bring them together, the locking-bars y lying between the stretcher-rods so that the parts may be arranged compactly when not in service.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a rectangular suds-box, two oppositely-pivoted rocking levers connected by a cross-bar, and an upper rubber frame having slotted standards which are engaged by studson the rocking levers, of a lower rubber-frame having open slots which are engaged by pivot-studs on the lower end of rocking levers, substantially as set forth.

2. In a washing-machine having two rubbing-frames oppositely reciprocated, a lower rubber-frame comprised of two side bars, a series of transverse rubbing-strips spaced apart 011 the side bars, a center guide-bar, and spaced longitudinal guard-rods that loosely engage perforations in the rubbing-strips, substantially as set forth.

3. In a washing-machine having two oppositely-moved rubber-frames, the combination, with two longitudinally-located guide-pieces afiixed to the inner surface of the rectangular suds-box and said rectangular suds-box, of a lower rubber-frame comprised of two side bars, a series of transverse rubbing-strips, a center guide-piece, guard-rods that engage holes in the series of rubbing-strips, and rocking levers which are adapted to reciprocate the lower rubber-frame, substantially as set forth.

4. In a washing-machine having a rectangular suds-box and two rubber-frames which move in opposite directions, an upper rubberframe comprised of two side bars, a series of spaced rubbing-strips, side guide-pieces attached longitudinally on the rubbing-strips, a center guide-piece, a transverse cover-board secured on each end of the center guide-piece, and oppositely-located upright slotted standards which are attached to the side bars and are pivotally engaged by rocking levers that actuate the upper rubber-frame, substantially as set forth.

5. In a washing-machine, the combination, with a suds-box and levers pivoted to the sides thereof, of a lower rubber-frame held to slide in the suds-box and pivoted to said levers, an upper rubber-frame adjustably pivoted to said levers, and a guide-frame for said upper rubber-frame, substantially as shown and described.

WVILLIAM J. BRACKNEY.

Witnesses:

ANDREW G. WILLIAMs, J AMES B. MATES. 

